The Importance of Doctrine

"So the Church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied" (Acts 9:31).

When the great persecution that swept Jerusalem lost its more ardent warrior, Saul, the church entered into a season of fruitfulness. Luke describes this period as one of peace and growth. The people were allowed to live normal lives: go to work, worship, evangelize, minister, etc. While their neighbors may not have shared their Christian convictions, they stop trying to arrest and kill them for having Christian convictions.

Also during this time, the people went from trusting in Christ to being built up in the faith. With the persecution over people had the opportunity to dig deeper into their faith. When prison and death are imminent, there isn't much time for theological debate. When the dust settles in times of persecution, the opportunity for the expansion and clarification of doctrine arises. To put it another way, during persecution the basics of the faith--God, sin, Christ, repentance and faith--are the subject matters that receive the most emphasis. When persecution ceases, then the church has the opportunity (and obligation) to flesh out the implications of the gospel and to formulate doctrine.

The formulation of doctrine at least two purposes. Articulating what we believe in clear and concise language by way of creed or confession allows us to instruct new converts. Since we are commanded by Christ to teach new believers everything he commanded, we cannot neglect teaching doctrine. To neglect doctrinal teaching is an act of disobedience. How can they obey what they are not taught.

The second reason we formulate doctrine is so we can address our detractors. The Scripture calls us to be ready to defend the hope that is in us through Christ Jesus (see 1 Pet. 3:15). When people misrepresent our beliefs, we are obligated to point out the errors in their thoughts and arguments. When people accuse us falsely of believing or doing absurd things, we are obligated to show them what we really believe and do.

Acts 9:31 expresses this in such beautiful language. There was peace and people were being built up. The end result is also beautiful. As the people walked in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church multiplied. The image of "walking in the Spirit" indicates the people were producing the fruit of the Spirit--peace, joy, love, kindness, goodness, gentleness, patience, faithfulness, and self-control. They hated evil and loved the Lord. The image of walking in "the comfort of the Holy Spirit" indicates that the Spirit was healing the wounds caused by persecution.

The phrases, walking in the fear of the Lord and walking the the comfort of the Holy Spirit, teach us another important reality. In the Christian life we must do our part, and we can be sure the Spirit will do his. We are to work our faith with fear and trembling, but know that it is the Spirit who works God's will in our heart and lives (see Phil 2:12-13).

As the people walked with the Lord in the power and presence of the Spirit, the church grew. This is no mere adding daily. This was multiplication. The church flourished under doctrine of the Lord. When our theology, or doctrine, is out of focus our life will be out of focus. When our theology is correct, then our actions will be correct. When we are believing and living correctly, the church will multiply.